Chuba Hubbard wasted no time in making a second-half statement Saturday night inside Boone Pickens Stadium.

For a team whose offense gets a lot of the attention, Oklahoma State’s defense made itself known Saturday night.

NORMAN — Nick Basquine is no stranger to a throwing motion. He played baseball back in his high school days at Norman North.

Oklahoma nickelback Brendan Radley-Hiles tries to block a pass during the Sooners' game against Texas Tech on Sept. 28 at Owen Field. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript)

Oklahoma’s defensive failures against Texas last season were encapsulated on a third-and-21 play, starting when Longhorn receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey caught a pass at the line of scrimmage.

Oklahoma's 2020 softball schedule will include a trip to Mexico.

Oklahoma travels to Lawrence, Kansas, for its first Big 12 road test on Saturday.

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma's defense was hearing words not muttered in the past few years when the unit was subject to ridicule in a 55-16 win over Texas Tech Saturday in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

NORMAN — Neville Gallimore had two steps on Texas Tech quarterback Jett Duffey. But during a chase from the pocket, the Oklahoma defensive tackle was blocked by running back SaRodorick Thompson.

OKLAHOMA CITY — If the 46 points the Thunder allowed in the third quarter can be glossed over as something other than the primary takeaway from Oklahoma City’s final preseason game, a 124-119 loss to Memphis Wednesday night inside Chesapeake Energy Arena, then Devon Hall can be.

OKLAHOMA CITY — If Chris Paul is traded after the season or even mid-season, as many expect, he’ll likely still have made his mark on the Thunder.

TULSA — Through Thunder training camp, much discussed topics have included Chris Paul, the squad’s lone superstar, ball movement as a big part of the offense, how coach Billy Donovan might manage three different point guards and the back-on-the-court-again Andre Roberson.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Perhaps Andre Roberson will see game action this preseason, but not tonight when the Thunder meet Dallas at 7 p.m. inside Tulsa’s BOK Center.

OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s the first of a quartet of preseason games afforded the Thunder when they meet the Dallas Mavericks at 7 tonight inside Tulsa’s BOK Center. And when Oklahoma City has the ball, there are a couple of things to look for, independent of who’s on the floor.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Perhaps what’s happened to the Thunder since last season ended in the first round of the playoffs a third straight season amounts to simply this: